Get a Kleenex!
by Cindy Burreson
As I go on my walks and hikes for exercise, I see the overabundance of color and smell the sweetness of everything in bloom. I love this time of year when the sun is shining, the grass is green as can be, and flowers reach to the sky from the pots they've been stuck in through the winter months. BUT, I don't have sinus problems....so, I thought I would offer up some advice to those of you who sniff and sneeze your way through these lovely spring days. In most cases, symptom relief makes a big difference in the way that you feel. A nasal spray can do wonders for keeping your nose moist; they’ve been shown to significantly reduce nasal symptoms and may help make your nose more resistant to irritants and bacteria. Using a humidifier can also keep your nose moist, just remember to keep it clean and free from fungus which can worsen your symptoms. Avoiding the irritants that you are aware of such as smoke, pet dander, grasses, etc seems obvious, but many people put themselves in situations around these things and then wonder why they feel like garbage! If you have a stuffed nose, using a steamer can loosen the nasal passages and promote drainage. Something as simple as a hot shower can help tremendously! OTC decongestants can also help to make your symptoms more bearable too. For a runny nose, antihistamines are effective, only if the runny nose is caused by allergies. They have been shown to do little with regard to runny noses from colds, etc. I find that nasal spray like Afrin works really well for me with drying up my nose; just don't use it for too many days in a row. Call your doctor if your symptoms have lasted more than 10 days or you have any of the following conditions along with a stuffy or runny nose:
As I go on my walks and hikes for exercise, I see the overabundance of color and smell the sweetness of everything in bloom. I love this time of year when the sun is shining, the grass is green as can be, and flowers reach to the sky from the pots they've been stuck in through the winter months. BUT, I don't have sinus problems....so, I thought I would offer up some advice to those of you who sniff and sneeze your way through these lovely spring days. In most cases, symptom relief makes a big difference in the way that you feel. A nasal spray can do wonders for keeping your nose moist; they’ve been shown to significantly reduce nasal symptoms and may help make your nose more resistant to irritants and bacteria. Using a humidifier can also keep your nose moist, just remember to keep it clean and free from fungus which can worsen your symptoms. Avoiding the irritants that you are aware of such as smoke, pet dander, grasses, etc seems obvious, but many people put themselves in situations around these things and then wonder why they feel like garbage! If you have a stuffed nose, using a steamer can loosen the nasal passages and promote drainage. Something as simple as a hot shower can help tremendously! OTC decongestants can also help to make your symptoms more bearable too. For a runny nose, antihistamines are effective, only if the runny nose is caused by allergies. They have been shown to do little with regard to runny noses from colds, etc. I find that nasal spray like Afrin works really well for me with drying up my nose; just don't use it for too many days in a row. Call your doctor if your symptoms have lasted more than 10 days or you have any of the following conditions along with a stuffy or runny nose:
- Thick nasal discharge (clear, colored, or bloody)
- Coughing up mucus (clear, colored, or bloody)
- Headache or facial pain (especially if it is worse when you bend your head forward)
- Sudden bad breath
- Fever of over 101 degrees Fahrenheit lasting more than 3 days
- History of frequent or recurrent sinus infections
Source: Realage.com